Defender and Stargate – Cane and Rinse No.703

New podcast: Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (early access) The Super Mario Land trilogy ends and the Wario saga begins. In our latest podcast on Nintendo's garlic-loving antihero we set sail for Kitchen Island, monochrome home to shiny pirate treasure. Leon, Darren, James, Leah and listeners don handy headgear in order to crack forty courses of placid platforming in our Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 show. Available now on Patreon! Links in bio.

Podcast: Stardew Valley “The sooner we come to terms with our mortality, the more time we can spend really living in the here-and-now.” Released 10 years ago today, the fecund soil of Stardew Valley is where we plant ourselves for this rustic podcast. Leon, Brian, Leah and Ryan head for the rural idyll of Pelican Town to recollect their many days spent on Eric Barone’s farming RPG. We also harvest a bumper crop of community correspondence and Three Word Reviews. Availabe now for free on pod feeds, Spotify, YouTube etc. Links in bio.

New podcast: Please, Touch The Artwork “But nothing could stop them, because they were in love” Are videogames art? It’s a stupid, pointless question that we have never felt the need to address on the Cane and Rinse podcast. Instead, let’s look at this pair of Belgian games about ‘proper’, actua art that invite the player to Please, Touch The Artwork. Leon, Chris W, Ryan and James (who selected these for the podcast) head to the gallery for post-impressionist puzzles in these digital explorations of Piet Mondrian and James Ensor. Available now through pod feeds, Spotify, YouTube et al. Links in bio.

New podcast: Balan Wonderworld (early access) It’s time for a show! Join Brian, Chris Worthington, Darren and Leah as they explore the wild and sometimes confusing world of Square Enix’s notorious Balan Wonderworld. Underneath all of the drama and controversy is there a game here that is worth playing? Listen in to find out! We make no guarantees. Available now from our $2 Patreon. Links in bio.

Podcast: The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda was released 40 years ago today. “IT’S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS.” The Cane and Rinse podcast returns for its fifth year with the start of its longest series yet. Just under 30 years ago, Nintendo released The Hyrule Fantasy: Zeruda no Densetsu for the Famicom Disk system. Much better known as The Legend of Zelda, Miyamoto and Tezuka’s 1986 action RPG took influences from earlier videogames – as well as the creators’ real-life experiences – but undoubtedly blazed many trails of its own. Leon, Darren, Joshua, Ryan and a glut of community contributors discuss what they enjoyed - and what they didn’t - about playing the first, formative game of this mighty franchise. Grab it from podcast feeds, Spotify, YouTube etc. Links in bio.

New podcast: Time Crisis “Dance, baby, dance. Dance to the “death”!” The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast returns for its fifteen year with its first ever lightgun game coverage. Namco’s celebrated Time Crisis just turned 30, so here we crouch into cover and give it the once-over. Leon, Chris Worthington, Karl (who nominated this one for the show) and Tony – along with community correspondents are ready for ACTION! Available now from podcast feeders, Spotify, YouTube... Links in bio.

New podcast: Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (early access) We debated whether or not to dig into Castlevania's three-dimensional escapades. In the end the ayes had it and so here we are, with 1999's Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (including its predecessor that isn't called Castlevania 64. Leon, Brian, Chris Worthington, Leah and Patreon posters postulate on Konami Kobe's first and second attempts at turning the resolutely side-on world of Demon Castle Dracula into polygons. Listen today - and help us out - through our $2 Patreon! Links in bio.

Podcast: Rayman “No problem!” Less than a decade after the French studio was founded, Ubi Soft Entertainment (as it was then), released colourful and seemingly armless character platformer Rayman onto an unsuspecting world. Leon, Jesse, Michiel, Tony and a whole bunch of nostalgic correspondents remember the fun highs and the frustrating lows of this, as it turns out, notoriously uncompromising adventure… Your perfect accompaniment to Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition. Download or stream from podcast feed providers, Spotify or our website. Links in bio

New podcast: Rollcage and Rollcage Stage II (early access) In Rollcage and Rollcage Stage II, Players drive an indestructible vehicle where the concept of up and down doesn’t really matter and physics are an afterthought. So long as you’re driving fast, facing forward and turning up the soundtrack, you’re Rollcaging. Join host Rich and panellists Dan, Karl and Tony as they discuss this cult racer, its impact on the late-90s gaming landscape, and its legacy. Available right now for anyone who wants to support Cane and Rinse on Patreon - just $2 per month! Links in bio.

Podcast: Paper Mario 25 years ago today Paper Mario was released for the N64 in the USA. Float into bed and join Leon, Darren and Leah in the Mushroom Kingdom circa 2001 for another tale of an imprisoned Princess Peach and the seeking of seven magical stars. Find it on our website or Spotify. Links in bio.

New podcast: January 2026 Monthly Two hours and fifteen minutes of such densely-packed waffle that even a Breville would struggle. Leon and Jay talk TV, films and - of course - videogames as thanks for you folks supporting the podcast, including: Jujutsu Kaisen Frieren Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle The Legend of Hei The Legend of Hei 2 Look Back The films of Hirokazu Kore-eda Bugonia Fallout season 2 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Silent Hill f Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II Crimson Desert Join us for our brand new season of episodes for just $2! Links in bio.

New podcast: Defender and Stargate (early access) The legend Julian 'Jaz' Rignall joins us as special guest for this 45th anniversary celebration of Williams' Defender, and its sequel, Stargate (both 1981). Leon, Chris W, Michiel and Defender Champion (in every sense of the word) Jaz search for the right words with which to describe this most intense and frenetic arcade experience. Along with contributions from the Cane and Rinse community, we talk graphics, sound, mechanics, conversions, clones and spiritual successors. Available now via our great value $2 Patreon, or buy just this one pod. Support the podcast and listen today! Links in bio.